Application: templates and forms

For a worker in Northern Ireland who wants to book paid holiday: a dated written request giving the first and last day and the number of working days, asking for written approval. Unless your contract or holiday rules say otherwise, regulation 18 of the Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 asks for notice of twice the length of the leave, and lets the employer refuse only by counter-notice as long as the leave. The Labour Relations Agency explains the rules free. Send it by email or hand it in.

For a ratepayer in Northern Ireland writing to Land & Property Services, which bills and collects domestic rates: to ask for Lone Pensioner Allowance (20% off for people aged 70 or over who live alone) or Disabled Person’s Allowance (25% off for an adapted home), to say your landlord is liable for a rented home valued at £150,000 or less, to dispute a wrong bill, or to ask for a refund. LPS has free application forms and online services; this letter suits a case they do not fit. To challenge the capital value itself, use the review statement instead.

For a parent in Northern Ireland who needs their child to miss school days in term time — a family wedding or funeral abroad, a serious illness in the family, a parent's leave from the forces. A request to the principal: it gives the dates and the day of return, explains the circumstances you believe are exceptional and asks for a written decision before the absence. The Department of Education's guidance lets a principal authorise term-time absence only in exceptional circumstances and no longer has a code for an agreed family holiday. Sent by email or handed in well in advance.

For a council taxpayer in Scotland: a letter to the council asking for the single person discount (25% off when you are the only adult at home), a discount because the other adults are disregarded, such as full-time students, or an exemption, from a date you give, with any backdating and refund. Every Scottish council has a free online form that does the same; this letter suits those who prefer writing or have a case the form does not fit. If the council refuses, the next step is a written appeal to it, then the Local Taxation Chamber.

For an employee in Northern Ireland who needs time off beyond their holiday — a long trip, a family matter, study — and wants their employer's agreement: a letter asking for unpaid leave between two dates, with the return date, and asking the employer to confirm in writing your return to the same job and what happens to holiday, pension and benefits. There is no general right to unpaid leave; parental leave and time off for dependants are separate statutory rights. Hand it in and email it.

For anyone in Northern Ireland with a workplace or personal pension who wants to know what it is worth, or has lost touch with the scheme after moving house or changing job. A letter to the scheme administrator or provider asking for a statement of your benefits under the Northern Ireland pension disclosure regulations of 2014 — the value built up, any transfer value and the date you can take it — and updating your address. Posted first class. Find a lost scheme's contact details free with the Pension Tracing Service on GOV.UK.

For a parent in Northern Ireland who believes their child has, or may have, special educational needs the school cannot meet from its own resources. A request to the Education Authority for a statutory assessment, the step towards a statement of special educational needs: it sets out your reasons and evidence, asks for the decision within the time limits that apply, and asks for reasons and your appeal rights if the Authority refuses. Posted first class; the Education Authority also has a free online form. Sold blank, as it holds a child's health data.

For a parent in Scotland who wants to see, or have a copy of, their child's educational record. A request under regulation 5 of the Pupils' Educational Records (Scotland) Regulations 2003: the record must be made available to see, free, within 15 school days, and a copy given within 15 school days, with a fee only where data protection law would allow one. Many councils have their own free request form, which you can use instead. Sent by email to the head teacher, who passes it to the council where the council holds the record.

For a parent in Scotland who believes their child needs more support at school than they are getting. A request to the education authority under section 8 of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 to establish whether the child has additional support needs, whether a co-ordinated support plan is required, or both, with any particular assessment you ask for. The council must comply unless the request is unreasonable. Enquire gives free advice first. Sent by recorded delivery. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds a child's health data.

For the executor or administrator of someone who has died in Northern Ireland, or a person who may have a claim arising out of the death. An application under Article 5(1)(e) of the Access to Health Records (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 to a GP practice or a health and social care trust: it names the patient and their Health and Care Number, says in which capacity you apply, lists the records wanted and asks for them within 21 or 40 days. Enclose the death certificate and your evidence. Posted first class. Sold blank, to complete by hand.

For a private tenant in Northern Ireland who wants to take in a lodger, or sublet a room or the whole home. Most tenancy agreements require the landlord’s written consent first, and going ahead without it can breach the tenancy and lead to its end. The letter says what you ask for, who would move in, where and for how long, confirms you stay responsible for the rent and every term of the tenancy, and asks for an answer within 14 days. Not for Housing Executive or housing association tenants, whose own tenancy terms apply.

For a parent in Northern Ireland who wants to see, or have a copy of, their child's educational record held by a school. A request to the principal under the Northern Ireland pupil records regulations of 2007: a grant-aided school must make the record available within 15 school days of a written request, and any charge for a copy may not exceed the cost of supply. For a school the regulations do not cover, the letter asks for the same information under the UK GDPR instead. Sent by email or handed in at the school office.

For anyone who wants information held by a Scottish public authority — the Scottish Government, a council, a health board, Police Scotland, a school or a university: a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, also covering environmental information, asking for a reply within 20 working days (Scottish bank holidays excluded). No reason is needed. Many authorities have their own online form or FOI email address, free. A UK-wide body such as HMRC or the DWP answers under the UK Act instead: use the Freedom of information request to a public authority (UK).

For a private tenant in Northern Ireland who has not been given the tenancy information notice — the free notice of the main facts of the tenancy that a landlord must give within 28 days of the tenancy starting, and again within 28 days of a change. The letter asks for it within 14 days and names the next step: the district council, which enforces the rule and can give a landlord who does not comply a fixed penalty. Short, polite, and a dated record of when you asked.

For a tenant in Scotland with a private residential tenancy who wants to take in a lodger, or sublet a room or the whole home. The statutory terms of every private residential tenancy forbid this without the landlord’s written agreement, and breaking a term of the tenancy can be relied on as an eviction ground. The letter says what you ask for, who would move in, where and for how long, confirms you remain responsible for the rent and every term of your tenancy, and asks for a written answer within 14 days. Not for council or housing association tenants, whose tenancies have their own rules.

For a worker in Northern Ireland with a disability or long-term health condition who needs changes at work — equipment, hours, duties, the workplace, how meetings are run: a letter asking the employer to make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which still applies in Northern Ireland, describing the difficulty at work (not a diagnosis) and the changes asked for, and offering a meeting or an occupational health referral. Access to Work (NI) can also help. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data.

For an employee in Northern Ireland with 26 weeks' service who wants to change their hours, days or place of work — part-time, compressed hours, home or hybrid working: a dated written application under Article 112F of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, giving your present pattern, the change, when it should start and its likely effect on the business, and saying you have made no other request in the last 12 months. The employer must meet you within 28 days. Hand it in and email it.

For an employee in Northern Ireland whose employer, or former employer, has not given them their papers: one letter asking for any of missing pay statements (Article 40 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996), a P60 for a tax year, the P45 after leaving, and the written statement of employment particulars due within two months of starting (Article 33). Fill in only the lines you need; the others drop out. It gives 14 days and names the next steps: an industrial tribunal reference, and telling HMRC. Sent first class and by email.

For a patient anywhere in the UK who wants a copy of their health records from a GP practice, a hospital, a dentist or a private clinic. A subject access request under Article 15 of the UK GDPR: it asks for the records you choose and the information about how they are used, and reminds the practice of the one-month time limit and that the copy is free. Sent by email, with proof of identity. In England the NHS App already shows many patients their GP record. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data DocMuse does not collect.

For a parent in England who wants to see, or have a copy of, their child's educational record held by a school. A request under regulation 5 of the Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005: the governing body of a council-maintained school must let you see it free and give you a copy, at no more than the cost of supply, within 15 school days. For an academy or free school, the letter asks for the same information under the UK GDPR instead. Sent by email or handed in at the school office.

For a parent in Wales who needs their child to miss school days in term time. A request to the head teacher under the Education (Pupil Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2010: it gives the dates and the day of return, explains the reason, and asks for a written decision before the leave starts. The school decides each request on its merits and may allow up to ten school days a year for a holiday; absence it does not authorise can lead to a £60 penalty notice from the council, £120 if paid after 28 days. Sent by email or handed in well in advance, in English or in Welsh.

For the executor or administrator of someone who has died, or a person who may have a claim arising out of the death, in England, Wales or Scotland. An application under section 3(1)(f) of the Access to Health Records Act 1990 to a GP practice, hospital or health board: it names the patient, says in which capacity you apply, lists the records wanted and recalls the Act's 21-day and 40-day time limits. Enclose the death certificate and your evidence. Posted first class. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it concerns health records.

For a parent in Wales who wants to see, or have a copy of, their child's educational record held by a maintained school. A request to the head teacher under regulation 5 of the Pupil Information (Wales) Regulations 2011: the record must be made available to you free, and a copy given at no more than the cost of supply, within 15 school days of your written request. It also asks for any other personal data under the UK GDPR. Sent by email or handed in at the school office; you may write in Welsh.

For anyone in England, Wales or Scotland with a workplace or personal pension who wants to know what it is worth, or has lost touch with the scheme after moving house or changing job. A letter to the scheme administrator or provider asking for a statement of your benefits under the pension disclosure regulations of 2013 — the value built up, any transfer value and the date you can take it — and updating your address. Posted first class. Find a lost scheme's contact details free with the Pension Tracing Service on GOV.UK.